Teething Toy Recalls 2026: Elmo Teether, Pull-String Silicone Toys, and How to Check Yours

Last updated: September 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your doctor, health visitor, or paediatrician. See our Editorial Policy.

Quick answer: Yes, several teething toys have been recalled in 2026. The Skip Hop Baby Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teether (model 9R263210, about 22,660 sold in the U.S.) was recalled on September 3 because its black eyes can detach if the toy is frozen. Three “pull-string” silicone teethers, sold by SHEIN (recalled September 17), in Chillife 5-in-1 Montessori sets on Amazon (August 27), and in SpringFlower 5-in-1 sets on Amazon (April 16), were recalled because the strings or tentacles can become lodged in a child’s throat. The CPSC says to stop using any of them immediately and claim a refund. No injuries were reported for the Elmo or SHEIN recalls; the CPSC is aware of four choking incidents with the Chillife toy, none needing medical attention.

Why teething toys are in the news this month

Teethers are made to go in a baby’s mouth, so any detachable part or long strand matters more than it would on a rattle. Four separate CPSC recalls this year involve teething toys, and two of them share a design: a soft silicone toy with long strings. Below is each one, what to look for, and what to do.

1. Skip Hop Elmo Silicone Teether: the freezer problem

What happened: The CPSC recall (September 3, 2026, recall number 26-739) says the black eyes can detach if the teether is frozen, creating a choking hazard. Skip Hop has received four reports of the eyes detaching and no injuries have been reported.

How to identify it: An Elmo-face teether (red, orange and white) with a textured blue key and a fabric crayon box. The model number is 9R263210, printed on a red Skip Hop tag attached to the side of the crayon box.

Scale and sale dates: About 22,660 units in the U.S. and 3,177 in Canada, sold at Carter’s stores, Carters.com and SkipHop.com from January 2025 through March 2026 for about $12.

What to do: Stop using it, take it away from your child, and go to skiphoprecall.com (or call 800-692-4674, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday). The remedy is a gift card usable at William Carter Company brand stores.

2. Pull-string silicone teethers: SHEIN, Chillife, SpringFlower

These three recalls share one problem: soft silicone strings or tentacles that are, per the CPSC, smaller and longer than the federal toy standard allows, so they can reach the back of a child’s throat and lodge there.

SHEIN Pull & Chew Montessori Teething Toys (recalled September 17, 2026, number 26-782). Green, pink, yellow or blue silicone toys with four strings, sold on SHEIN.com from December 2025 through April 2026 for about $10. About 644 units. No incidents reported. Contact SHEIN at 833-853-8668 or productrecall@shein.com; you will be asked to cut off the strings and send a photo before a refund.

Chillife 5-in-1 Montessori Baby Toy Sets (recalled August 27, 2026, number 26-727). The set’s pull-string teether is an off-white disc with a blue ball and six long silicone strings. About 20,134 units, sold on Amazon from July 2023 through April 2026 for about $27. The CPSC is aware of four choking incidents, none needing medical attention. The remedy is a partial refund of $5.40 after you destroy the teether and email a photo.

SpringFlower 5-in-1 Montessori Toy Set, model SFTODD05IN1 (recalled April 16, 2026, number 26-427). The airplane-shaped pull-string teether has six tentacles. About 21,900 units sold on Amazon from October 2023 through November 2025 for about $30. No incidents reported. Remedy is a free replacement part or a refund.

Takeaway: If your “Montessori baby set” came from a marketplace seller, check the model number on the packaging against the recall pages linked below. For the Chillife recall the CPSC says to stop using the pull-string teether; for SpringFlower it says to stop using the whole set and contact the seller.

Is it safe to freeze a teether?

The Elmo recall is a good reason to read the fine print. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org advises offering solid (not liquid-filled) teething rings chilled in the fridge or freezer but taking them out before they are rock hard, and says to avoid teething rings that are frozen solid because they are too hard for a baby’s mouth. Its other cold options include a wet washcloth chilled in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes, or a twisted, frozen damp washcloth with one end knotted.

Practical rules that follow from the recall and the AAP guidance:

Check the manufacturer’s instructions before freezing any teether. If the label says “do not freeze,” don’t.
Chill, don’t freeze solid. The fridge is the safer default.
Inspect before every use. Look for cracks, loose eyes or features, or anything that pulls away.
Stay within arm’s reach while your baby chews.

What the AAP says to avoid

HealthyChildren.org’s teething page also says the AAP does not recommend infants wear any jewelry, and that teething necklaces are neither effective nor safe, citing a December 2018 FDA warning that followed reports of children choking on beads and an 18-month-old strangled by an amber necklace. It adds that numbing gels or creams containing benzocaine are not recommended for infants, and that you should ask your pediatrician before giving acetaminophen.

A 2-minute check for your teething toys

Pull out every teether, set and “Montessori” toy your baby mouths.
Find the brand and model number (often on packaging or a tag).
Search the CPSC recall list at cpsc.gov/Recalls or use the links below.
Look at the toy itself: long, thin strands, detachable eyes or buttons, or cracks mean it should go.
Sign up for CPSC recall emails so the next one reaches you first.

The bottom line

Four 2026 CPSC recalls involve teething toys: a freezer-sensitive Elmo teether and three pull-string silicone designs sold through Carter’s, SHEIN and Amazon. None has a reported injury, but the hazard in each case is choking. Check your model numbers, follow each company’s refund steps, chill teethers rather than freezing them solid, and keep to simple one-piece options. If your baby is choking or struggling to breathe, call emergency services immediately. For related reading, see our July recall roundup and our guide to button battery and magnet toy warnings.

Sources

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